Hero Snatched Gun Away From Waffle House Shooter

Man who tackled Waffle House shooting suspect speaks at news conference with Nashville law enforcement.

A 29-year-old man was hailed a hero Sunday after he seized the opportunity to wrestle the gun away from the shooter at a Tennessee Waffle House, saving countless lives during a rampage that left at least four people dead and several others injured.

James Shaw Jr. was dining at the Waffle House in Antioch, about 16 miles southeast of downtown Nashville, around 3:25 a.m. when suspect Travis Reinking allegedly opened fire outside the restaurant. Shaw said at a news conference Sunday afternoon that he felt he had the opportunity to potentially stop the attack during the hail of bullets.

“I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it,” Shaw told the Tennessean.

The 29-year-old said that he had made up his mind about his potential death at the hands of the alleged gunman.

“I figured if I was going to die, he was going to have to work with it,” Shaw said, as Fox 17 reported. “He was gonna have to work to kill me.”